Both are important.If you see a negative net migration over the last 10 years, it's probably a pass.If you see a positive net 10-year migration, but a decelerating rate of year-over-year in recent years, that's a sign that it's a maturing community, and till probably not have the same explosive growth it had previously had.Now, ALL that said, if you're talking about net-migration numbers in the single-digit thousands, you're probably looking at too small of a slice of the MSA.

My area has seen an explosion in rent prices and the demand for them is absurd, this is the main reason, why I am thinking about holding this piece instead of flipping it.

Given the explosion in demand on the long island housing market.

they usually don't leave the gas on with a leak because the danger is from gas accumulation starting a fire or resulting in an explosion.

That appreciation here has been nothing short of explosive as a region this year. 

My city has had an explosive year and price to rent ratios are not the most ideal at least from the small amount of properties I have analyzed.

This house had significant fire damage after a large gas explosion.

We're in Nanaimo which has had explosive growth in the last 4 years and a low vacancy rate which has had the rents rise with prices so the cap rate has not been eroded.

Plus Asheville airport having explosive growth.

The space coast / Brevard County has had a crazy explosion in the Aerospace / Defense / Technology areas and that is even further fueling the desires of the area along with beaches, and great values on housing!